Casper Man Arrested for Strangulation, Domestic Battery

Casper police officers arrested a man on Saturday after he allegedly strangled a woman and shoved her, causing her to hit her head on a refrigerator.

Matthew Richard Williams was booked into jail on recommended charges of strangulation of a household member and domestic battery. He will likely make his initial appearance in Natrona County Circuit Court at 2 p.m. Monday.

According to charging documents, three officers responded to a residence in the 1300 Block of South Fenway at roughly 10:45 p.m. Friday for a reported overdose. A woman had reportedly taken a significant quantity of medication in an effort to harm herself.

The woman was evaluated, and the overdose claims were determined to be false. The woman was outside of the residence during her contact with officers, and most of her belongings had been tossed outside. She told police she had been living there with her boyfriend, Williams, for about a week.

However, Williams had locked the door and refused to let her back inside. The woman refused officers' offer for a ride to another location.

About 90 minutes later, two officers returned to the residence after receiving a report that the woman had been assaulted by Williams.

Having fled to a neighbor's house, the woman told officers that she had gone back into Williams's residence after officers left initially. She laid down on a mattress and went to sleep in the living room.

The woman said Williams woke her up sometime later, screaming about a missing dog. He then allegedly grabbed her by the neck and squeezed, pulling her around the room. Williams shoved the woman, she said, causing her to fall backward and hit her head on a refrigerator.

Police noted redness and early bruising on the woman's neck. Her shirt was reportedly torn and her face was flushed.

Officers then went to Williams's front door to speak with him about the incident. As they approached, they could hear Williams screaming nonsensically from within. One officer asked Williams to speak with them, and Williams reportedly started screaming about "getting shot," quickly advancing down the front hall toward the open front door.

Williams was allegedly carrying a large machete knife in one hand, repeatedly yelling at police and asking to be "shot in the head." One officer pulled the front door closed and held the handle, creating a barrier between Williams and the officers.

Another officer pointed his pistol at Williams and ordered him to drop the knife. Williams ultimately complied and gave himself up.

The alleged victim was treated by EMS and completed a domestic violence packet. Williams was arrested, and police helped the woman move out of the residence.